crisis

[ krahy-sis ]

noun

, plural cri·ses [krahy, -seez].

1. a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events, especially for better or for worse, is determined; turning point.
2. a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.
3. a dramatic emotional or circumstantial upheaval in a person's life.
4. Medicine/Medical.
   1. the point in the course of a serious disease at which a decisive change occurs, leading either to recovery or to death.
   2. the change itself.
5. the point in a play or story at which hostile elements are most tensely opposed to each other.

adjective

1. of, referring to, or for use in dealing with a crisis.

crisis

/ ˈkraɪsɪs /

noun

1. a crucial stage or turning point in the course of something, esp in a sequence of events or a disease
2. an unstable period, esp one of extreme trouble or danger in politics, economics, etc
3. pathol a sudden change, for better or worse, in the course of a disease

Other Words From

• crisic adjective
• post·crisis adjective noun plural postcrises

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisis¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin crisis “(medical) crisis,” from Greek krísis “decision, interpretation,” equivalent to kri- variant stem of krīnein “to decide, separate, judge” + -sis -sis

Word History and Origins

Origin of crisis¹

C15: from Latin: decision, from Greek krisis, from krinein to decide

Synonym Study

See emergency.

Example Sentences

What is known is that Peña Nieto bungled his response to the crisis.

From The Daily Beast

Consent is manufactured—like, remember the Ebola crisis from a few weeks ago?

From The Daily Beast

And he said, I know you see this crisis through a very personal lens.

From The Daily Beast

Are you more pessimistic about the overall public education crisis given this current environment?

From The Daily Beast

The housing bubble was at very the center of the financial crisis that birthed Dodd-Frank.

From The Daily Beast

Then Paterno adroitly brought matters to a crisis in a bold peroration which changed the whole scene.

From Project Gutenberg

The Afghan was true to his salt, and their own retainers, who had come with them from Lucknow, remained steadfast at this crisis.

From Project Gutenberg

Mamma had left the drawing-room, and I was sitting alone; I immediately saw that we had reached a crisis.

From Project Gutenberg

With the end of the moratorium on November 4, it may be said that the crisis produced by the outbreak of war was over.

From Project Gutenberg

Lombard Street has thus shown that it has fully learnt the only lesson that the external side of the crisis had to teach it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• catastrophe
• change
• confrontation
• crunch
• deadlock
• dilemma
• disaster
• emergency
• impasse
• mess
• pressure
• situation
• trouble